Rephonic
Artwork for The Designated Players

The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast

Andrew Barnikel, Connor Wright
MLS
Major League Soccer
Inter Miami
FC Cincinnati
Atlanta United
Leagues Cup
Philadelphia Union
Columbus Crew
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver Whitecaps
LAFC
MLS Cup Playoffs
Lionel Messi
MLS Cup
US Open Cup
New England Revolution
New York Red Bulls
Chicago Fire
Charlotte FC
LA Galaxy

We are The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast! Your home for all things MLS, Past Present and Future! Hosted by Andrew Barnikel and Connor Wright

PublishesDailyEpisodes479Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsSports NewsNewsSoccer

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Designated Players

Latest Episodes

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're back to covering MLS again! This week we're catching you up on all of the big transfers that have happened during the World Cup, including at Lewandowski to Chic... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we reacting to the World Cup final! We will be giving our breakdown of all the major moments of the game and what ultimately lead to Spain's victory of Argentina. Let ... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we continue our coverage of the World Cup! This week we are recapping the semifinals games, which has set us up for the 2026 World Cup Final! We will lastly and briefl... more

In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're back to covering MLS again! This week we're catching you up on all of the coaching changes that have happened during the World Cup, including at Austin FC, Portl... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Paul Sokoloff
Red Bull 2 player, US Youth National Team player
New York Red Bulls II
Episode: Episode 457: Pathway To Pro ft Paul Sokoloff From RBNY2!
Timber Joey Webber
Current Timber Joey, long-time mascot and notable figure associated with the log tradition
Portland Timbers
Episode: Episode 452: The Portland Timbers' Log Cutting Tradition! MLS History Retold!
Mike Ace Palane
Mike from Orlando Lions Den, Orlando City coverage
Orlando Lions Den
Episode: Episode 447: Griezmann to MLS, Apple TV Week 1 Numbers and Coaches on the Hot Seat ft Orlando Lions Den!
Bob V
Soccer analyst and podcaster
The Designated Pundits
Episode: Episode 446: The State Of MLS Media with Bob From The Designated Pundits!
Brian Mauer
Content creator and podcaster at Top In 90
Top In 90
Episode: Episode 440: A Not So Deep Dive Into Charlotte FC's 2026 Season ft TopBin90!
Kerry Redman
Member of the New York Red Bulls Discussion Group Podcast and an insightful fan.
New York Red Bulls Discussion Group Podcast
Episode: Episode 436: A Not So Deep Dive Into Red Bull New York's 2026 Season ft NYRBDG Podcast!
Mitchell Carroll
Co-host of Commerce City Radio, soccer analyst
Commerce City Radio
Episode: Episode 433: A Not So Deep Dive Into Colorado Rapids' 2026 Season ft Commerce City Radio!
John Rawlins
Lifelong Orlando City fan and content creator with a YouTube channel
John Rawlins TV
Episode: Episode 426: A Not So Deep Dive Into Orlando City's 2026 Season ft John Rawlins TV!
Jerald Lucas
Sports journalist and co-host of The Wisemen Say Podcast
Babel USA
Episode: Episode 424: A Not So Deep Dive Into Columbus Crew's 2026 Season ft The Wisemen Say Podcast!

Hosts

Andrew Barnikel
Host of The Designated Players MLS Podcast
Connor Wright
Co-host and MLS analyst

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Good pod

    Guys do a good job and are talented at podcasting. However knowledge could be stronger. For example how can you repeatedly call the league MVP “Luchy.” It’s Lucho. And similar mistakes that makes me wonder how much soccer you watch. It’s like having an nba podcast and calling him “dabron james.”

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CompetitivePokemonAllTheWay
    United States2 years ago
  • English

    Please learn how to speak English

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    g3423
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast to get your weekly MLS updates, awesome interview guests from all over the country, and a real fun time overall!

    Podchaser
    5
    Andrew Barnikel
    6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Good pod for MLS history lovers and fans who enjoy a candid, analytical take on league moments.
A few reviews point to areas for improvement, like pronunciation accuracy and deeper data-backed analysis.
The banter and guest-worthy discussions are generally seen as engaging and informative.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#247
United States/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#135
South Korea/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 457: Pathway To Pro ft Paul Sokoloff From RBNY2!
Q: How would you describe your role and development as an attacking midfielder, and what qualities do you think set you apart?
I focus on mentality and bravery in big moments, while refining the midfield actions to contribute to the attack from between the lines and create chances.
Episode 457: Pathway To Pro ft Paul Sokoloff From RBNY2!
Q: Talk to us about that moment, stepping on the field for the very first time.
It was surreal and unexpected, but it crystallized the idea that relentless preparation can create breakthroughs when you least expect them.
Episode 448: MLS Coaches Continue To Fail In Europe ft Celtic: The Unrestricted View Podcast!
Q: Do you think that the reputation of MLS managers is now going to be limited because of these two coaches who have not been successful?
Yes, it could hurt perceptions in some boards, leading teams to search more broadly and conduct more interviews, but it's not fair to judge all MLS managers by two mid-season failures; there will still be opportunities for others who can adapt and show results.”
Episode 446: The State Of MLS Media with Bob From The Designated Pundits!
Q: What do you think about MLS's current media strategy?
Bob believes that concerns regarding the media shift are somewhat exaggerated, but acknowledges that the loss of long-time contributors is troubling.
Episode 436: A Not So Deep Dive Into Red Bull New York's 2026 Season ft NYRBDG Podcast!
Q: Does the system work right out of the gate?
It's going to be a slow start; they need to work on cohesion.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Designated Players

What is The Designated Players about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two MLS-focused hosts share informed, opinionated takes on past, present, and future league topics with a clear penchant for historical MLS moments, tactical debates, and player development pathways. Episodes frequently mix banter with data-driven discussion, covering league structure, transfers, branding, and fan culture, while spotlighting youth pathways and the business side of the sport. The show stands out for its deep dives into MLS lore, candid takes on ownership and governance, and a conversational style that appeals to hardcore fans and industry watchers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Designated Players?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Designated Players. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Designated Players and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Designated Players get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Designated Players, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Designated Players?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Designated Players, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Designated Players have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Designated Players has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Designated Players?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Designated Players:

1. Soccerwise | World Cup, U.S. Soccer, MLS, NWSL
2. Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast
3. Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ...
4. MLS Aces Podcast
5. Battered Soccer Fans

How many episodes of The Designated Players are there?

The Designated Players launched 6 years ago and published 479 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Designated Players?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Designated Players?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Designated Players from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Designated Players?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Designated Players. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Designated Players?

Recent guests on The Designated Players include:

1. Paul Sokoloff
2. Timber Joey Webber
3. Mike Ace Palane
4. Bob V
5. Brian Mauer
6. Kerry Redman
7. Mitchell Carroll
8. John Rawlins

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days